Warning against involvement in war
Scholz clearly rejects the Taurus delivery
February 26, 2024, 2:29 p.m
Ukraine will still not be able to rely on the German Taurus system in its defense against Russia. Chancellor Scholz again rejects a delivery to Kiev. The danger of German participation in the war is too great. In addition, Ukraine needs something completely different much more urgently.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has now clearly rejected the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, citing the risk of Germany becoming involved in the war. “We must not be linked at any point or place to the goals that this system achieves,” said Scholz at the dpa editorial conference in chief. Therefore, this is not the next option on the agenda. “This clarity is also necessary. I’m surprised that some people aren’t moved at all, that they don’t even think about whether what we’re doing could, in a sense, lead to participation in the war.”
The Chancellor further explained: “It is a very long-range weapon. And what the British and French are doing in terms of target control and the accompaniment of target control cannot be done in Germany. Everyone who has dealt with this system knows that has.” He is surprised that this question is asked again and again. “I explained why that was out of the question – and it stayed that way,” continued Scholz.
He was “very irritated” by the “missing balance” between what was really needed now and the debate about this one system. “What Ukraine is missing is ammunition in all possible lengths and distances, but not crucially this thing from Germany,” he said when asked about the Taurus. Scholz further explained that the “talk” that there was hesitation was a problem in Germany. “A lot of people watch TV in the evenings and hope that the Chancellor will keep his nerve,” said Scholz.
The Taurus is one of the Air Force’s most modern missiles. The weapons find their target even from great heights and distances and can destroy bunkers, for example. Chancellor Scholz had already decided at the beginning of October not to deliver any Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia. The fear behind this was that Russian territory could also be hit by the precision weapons with a range of 500 kilometers.